Paul Greatrix:
Grammar:
The difference between knowing your shit,
and knowing you're shit.
    Leonardo Wild: Grammar ... the rules set to make your writing clear and understandable to readers. If you can make your writing clear and understandable and powerful without grammar, then to hell with grammar. It will only get in the way of what you want to say. -


Paul Greatrix: Read some wonderful advice recently I just wanted to share;

"Write from the heart. Rewrite with your head."

It reminds me to not crucify myself during a first draft - to stop trying to get it right first time. And above all else, to have lots of fun just telling a story.
    Torrence Winter: This is a quote that I found that fits the bill, "Writers don't make any money at all. We make about a dollar. It is terrible. But then again we don't work either. We sit around in our underwear until noon then go downstairs and make coffee, fry some eggs, read the paper, read part of a book, smell the book, wonder if perhaps we ourselves should work on our book, smell the book again, throw the book across the room because we are quite jealous that any other person wrote a book, feel terribly guilty about throwing the schmuck's book across the room because we secretly wonder if God in heaven noticed our evil jealousy, or worse, our laziness. We then lie across the couch facedown and mumble to God to forgive us because we are secretly afraid He is going to dry up all our words because we envied another man's stupid words. And for this, as I said, we are paid a dollar. We are worth so much more." --Donald Miller -
    WrittenWonders03: I love this authors work and what is written is so true to me and funny.Glad you posted this piece. I'm going to have to go on the kindle and buy one of his books now. -
    Leonardo Wild: Torrence, sorry, but I must differ:
    It isn't only writer who do not make any money. NOBODY except bankers make money.

    Normal mortals exchange their time for money. In other words, they monetize their time. Writers do not monetize their time, they hope to exchange talent for money, without selling off their time. -


Paul Greatrix: Here are two books that improved my writing greatly. I recommend them to anybody:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Book-development-principles-ebook/dp/B004G093BM/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1322550311&sr=8-10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Write-Damn-Novel-Step---Step/dp/0312010443/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322550399&sr=8-1
    Celtic~Soul: Yeah, as Red said. Just give us the book titles, we can look them up! -
    Paul Greatrix: How to write a damn good novel (1 & 2), by James Frey.
    These books really helped me get the basics of storytelling right. Wonderful advice on writing vibrant characters, how to make dialogue remarkable, and finding the most effective starting point in a story. His laid-back, uncomplicated writing style makes it all so very easy to digest.

    The story book, by David Baboulene.
    This features more advanced storytelling techniques. I recommend it for folks who have a couple of years writing experience under their belts. I found it's advice effective when I came to redrafting my novel. it focuses on the effectual execution of plot, and making sure your characters grow in a way that's satisfying for the reader. The biggest lesson here though is definitely the concept of 'subtext'. Knowing this vital technique has completely changed my approach to writing. Every serious writer should know it's mechanics. -


Paul Greatrix: can anyone tell me exactly how the book balloon certificate works?
    shelley kaye: you put it on the prologue of your book and it gives out fs$ for each current chapter of the book.... but (imo) it is sooo not worth the money
    -
    Paul Greatrix: i take it you dont get many reviews per chapter from it then? -


Paul Greatrix: It's a good idea to keep a few reminders pinned to the wall above your computer. They really help inspire and motivate you. Here are a few of the mantras I keep at hand:

SUCCESS IS DOING. NOT WISHING.


WRITE WITH AMBITION. BUT WITHOUT FEAR.


MY MIND IS ON A JOURNEY. SIMPLY STEP A SIDE AND LET IT PASS.

    Runnin: "Be one of those on whom nothing is lost." Henry James -
    Cotillion Black: "It's a fez. I wear a fez now. Fezzes are cool." Doctor Who -
    R. J. Stewart: A GOOD WRITER ALWAYS HAD THREE THINGS GOING FOR HIM: THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER THING. (It covers everything). -